feel good food that's good for you

Make planning picnics and BBQs that much easier by finding freezer space for some delicious cooked grain mixes, prepared vegetables and veggie burgers. This easy Zesty Quinoa, Bean and Artichoke Salad is perfect whether you are sunning yourself outside on a picnic blanket, or huddled under a marquee while the rain buckets down.

The hit-and-miss spring we are experiencing makes outdoor meal planning slightly nerve-racking. Even though I have lived in the UK for over 25 years, I still can’t get used to not being able to say with confidence – borne of being raised in Florida, “Okay, let’s go for a picnic on Saturday.” Or, “How about we meet everyone at the beach for a BBQ next weekend?”

Of course we can say all of these things, but in the back our minds is a matrix of contingency plans. Even just stating in the morning that as it looks fine we should eat lunch outside is enough for thunderclouds to appear and the wind to whip up.

Iceland can make the decision to eat al fresco that much easier. Instead of dashing out at the last minute to stand in a hot, heaving queue of people also loading up on burgers, kebabs, ice cream, salads, veggies for the grill and glistening bags of ice, you can just smugly open your freezer. Yes, your freezer.

I was asked by Iceland to come up with a Picnic or BBQ recipe using their increasingly interesting range of prepared foods and frozen ingredients. I was spoiled for choice really. If you eat meat and fish Iceland has a wonderful array of products to pop on the barbie, including some succulent-looking prawn kebabs. But vegetarians, and those like us who prefer to eat vegetarian, also have great options.

Most products are ready to cook and eat, while others are perfect for combining with other frozen options and a few fresh ingredients to create something completely different. I did a bit of both here. I combined a pack of their Zesty Bean Quinoa with a pack of their Marinated Artichokes and a good handful of frozen sliced peppers to create a hearty salad that can be taken to a picnic or BBQ. Or, in our case, carried outside into the garden under our apple tree and eaten on a very elderly, moth-eaten Scottish tartan rug.

I also cooked their Mediterranean Vegetables in a basil seasoning (see image below of it before cooking), and a couple of packs (2 come in a pack) of Piri Piri Sweet Potato Burgers. Iceland have an interesting range of frozen breads, including cornbread, baguettes and crusty rolls, that would be great slathered in garlic butter to go with your picnic food. I however choose their fresh St. Pierre Brioche Burger Buns to go with the sweet potato burgers, which to my mind are as good as any for which I have paid more than twice the price. I also noticed that, in addition to fresh and frozen vegetables, Iceland carry vacuum-sealed sweetcorn that would be good to pop on the barbie with a slab of miso-butter.

I didn’t read all of the packages for products I didn’t buy, but I imagine the food in their BBQ range can be cooked in the oven as well as on the grill. These sweet potato burgers are actually meant to be cooked in the oven but I bet that if you leave off the separate sachet of piri piri sauce you could finish the cooking on your BBQ to get those enticing grill marks. And while you have the grill all ashy and hot, chuck on some fresh veggies like oil-slicked aubergine rounds, strips of courgette and peppers, as well as a bundle of fresh asparagus. If I am eating frozen foods I always like to have something fresh with it too. Even if it is a big bowl of fresh fruit to go with ice cream. 🙂

If you haven’t been to Iceland in awhile, do go and have a look. Just remember to bring a big freezer bag, because you won’t be able to resist all of the new and up-to-the-minute flavours and products. I have made Iceland a regular stop on my shopping rounds, whereas before becoming involved in their #PowerofFrozen campaign I didn’t even consider it an option. How wrong I was. I am glad to have my prejudices turned over. Now, if I can only remember to turn the burgers over…

Zesty Quinoa, Bean and Artichoke Salad

If you don’t have an Iceland nearby (they deliver), use an equivalent seasoned quinoa mix with vegetables, refrigerated, fresh marinated artichoke hearts (or indeed cook from raw), and sliced peppers. Roasted or barbecued asparagus spears would be great in this too. I forgot to add the toasted seeds, but do use some as it gives a great crunchy texture. This salad makes great leftovers to take to work.

500g pack Zesty Quinoa Bean Mix (it’s well-seasoned)

250g pack marinated artichokes, or equivalent fresh, refrigerated

125g sliced peppers, frozen or fresh

5 spring onions, sliced

Handful of toasted seeds

Juice of half a lemon

Method:

1. Pour the packet of quinoa mix into a glass bowl and cover with clingfilm, piercing several times. Cook in the microwave on high for 6 minutes. You can also cook this in an oiled wok (this is normally how I heat frozen things like this), stirring often and covering in between.

2. While the quinoa is cooking, heat a wok and add the artichoke hearts. No need to add oil. Cook for five minutes then add the frozen peppers and cook for a further three minutes. When the quinoa is ready add it to the wok and stir well. Heat for a further two minutes. Spritz over the lemon juice and stir in the spring onions and seeds. Serve at room temperature as part of a meal.

Oh wow Kellie your photos are amazing – and I love that this picnic was made so easier thanks to frozen ingredients. I haven’t tried the Mediterranean Vegetables but soon as I get room in my freezer I will be back in Iceland for sure!

Thanks so much, Jan. I found it so hard to take photos outside as the clouds kept coming and going. The bright sunshine was the trickiest! Anyway, yes the med veg are great. I think I’m going to cook some pastry cases, slather in hummus and top with this product next time.

I’ve got a bag of the Zesty Quinoa Bean Mix in my freezer at the moment! You should also try their frozen Couscous with Vegetables. We had it alongside a BBQ and I’ve been back to stock up on more! Like you the #PowerOfFrozen campaign has opened my eyes to the great range of products at Iceland. I’m definitely going to have to spread out my tartan travel rug and have a back garden picnic!

I have tried the couscous mix- it’s great! I used it in my Moroccan Kale, Rainbow Carrot and Hummus Tart awhile back, as well as making quick veggie breakfast quesadillas just for us. Iceland really has come on. I’m glad you’ve had your eyes opened too. Not just me who wasn’t in on the good stuff they’ve now got. Thanks for stopping by Claire. 😊

What a glorious picnic you’ve put together there Kellie – so vibrant! I need to get myself down to Iceland to have a look for some of these fab ingredients. I especially love the sound of the sweet potato burgers…

Sadly, I’m in the latter rain-bucketing-down picnic camp at the moment. But I’m dreaming of picnics and love the artichoke, lemon, and quinoa pairing. Our markets are just starting to put whole foods such as chickpeas and quinoa in the freezer section. Such a great time saver to use when we’re in a pinch. I say, if it’s between freezer whole food staples and take-out or fast food, the freezer staples are a great win. Thanks for a picnic post Kellie!

What a beautiful, colorful salad! It’s so nice to have some frozen standbys like these, and I love that you’ve freshened it up with some other ingredients too. I remember too well from my days in Chicago that you are never really guaranteed good weather for a barbecue!

I'm Kellie, an ex-pat American cancer health educator with a taste for global food - and big flavours - made with fresh, seasonal British ingredients. Food To Glow is mainly 'plant-based', but you will find the occasional decadent treat - usually with a healthy tweak. Although I'm an omnivore, I speak fluent vegan: most of my non-vegan recipes will have vegan alternatives, as well as gluten-free and soft food diet options where appropriate. All recipes are tested out on family, friends and/or my cancer nutrition classes at the Maggies Cancer Caring Centres. You are very welcome to read, comment and share!

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